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Tim Pawlenty governed well for eight years with Democrat legislatures gnawing at his ankles. Now they have both chambers Republican in Minnesota. As with Romney, one grades on a curve when looking at the list of accomplishments we demand from a governor. Massachusetts and Minnesota are tougher venues than, say, Texas.

He is a credible candidate for the presidency and would unite the modern conservative movement in a race against Obama and Biden. Not a bad starting point.

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